Improved brick-machine



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DAVID P. DOBBINS AND JOHN S. RICHARDS,-OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, AND JAMESSANG STER, OF'BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 74,207, dated February 11, 1868.

IMPROVED BRICK-MACHINE.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, DAVID P. Doumns, of Buffalo, county of Erie, Stateof New York, JOHN S. RICH- ARDS, of Erie, county of Erie,and State ofPennsylvania, and JAMES SANGSTER, of the city of Bufi'alo, in the countyof Erie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and on Brick- Machincs; and we do hereby declare thatthe followingis a description of our said invention and improvements,andof the manner of making, constructing, and using the same, in suchfull, clear, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the artor science to which it appertains, or with which it is most nearlyconnected, to make, construct, and use the same, and of the operationand construction of the same, reference being bad to the annexeddrawings, making a part of this description or specification, in which-Figure 1 represents a side elevation.

Figure 2, a vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 3, a plan view of the improved machine.

Figure 4 is a front view of the end of 'one of the perforated pistons orplatens.

, Figure 5 represents a view of the same without perforations.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the strap which connects the connecting-rodsthat move the pistons.

Figure 7 represents the two connecting-rods for drawing the pistons,with the strap for holding them to the cranks, und'the keys foradjusting the same.

Figure 8 is a front view of the lifter for lifting the brick out of themould and delivering it after it has i been pressed.

Figure 9 represents an end view of the main shaft, showing the cranks atright angles to each other, or nearly so, the same being so arrangedthat no two cranks are giving to the clay or other material the finalpressure at the same time, which, of course, gives a great saving ofpower.

The nature of our invention pertains to machinery for pressing brick tobe made of pulverized or other properly-prepared clay or material ormaterials, or for re-pressing brick, or for pressing or re-pressing intorectangular form, or other desirable shape, clay or other friable orplastic material or materials for any useful purpose.

Whenever the term brick-machine is used in this description orspecification it is intended to mean a machine for any above mentionedpurposes. I

.Our invention consists in-'- First. The construction and arrangement ofthe body of the machine, so that the stationary platens, the guides andsupports for the movable pistons and sliding moulds. and an arrangementby'means of which several machines may be combined or united together toform one, may be cast or constructed all at once, with the body of themachine, thereby affording the means'(which cannot be obtained soeffectually and at so little cost in'anj other way) of planing, at oneand the same time, without taking it oil from the planer, the body ofthe machine, the stationary pistons, and the guides which fit within andsupport the movable pistons and sliding moulds; the arrangement forfastening several machines together, thus leaving every part in line andperfectly true-a. result which is almost impossible to be attained whenthe several pieces are put together separately. Italso obviates anotherand very serious objection incident to machinery where great power isrequired. When the several parts are put together in pieces or parts,some of them are liable to get loose or out of line, which often causesderangement, and more often the'breakage of machinery-a practicalimpossibility by our invention, constructed as the frame above mentionedis, in one piece, so as to be firm and immovable, and so that all theseveral parts, or either of them mentioned, may be planed or fittedtogether as hereinbefore described.

Second. In the combination and arrangement of mechanism for regulatingthe size of the mould while open, consisting of an adjustable strap,which, while it connects the connecting-rods thntmove the pistons to themain shaft and crank, affords, at the same time, the means for adjustingthe distance that the pistons and platens shall be apart while the mouldis open, so that the size or capacity of the mouldmay be adjusted'toclays of all kinds, or other proper material, as difierent clays andmaterials require different openings of the mould, so as to receiveenough, andonly enough, to enable the machine to condense to thenecessary density and proper size Third. In fastening thefriction-rollers directly to the sliding moulds, so that the cams whichgive them the. necessary reciprocating motions may act more direct,thereby avoiding the'usc of connecting-rods or any intermediateconnection. l

Fourth. A stationary platen or platens; perforated, in combination withamovable piston or pistons, perforated, when said perforated piston orpistons, and platen or platens, are combined with a sliding mould ormoulds, which move, during the operation of pressing bricksorother'forms, in the same direction, but at a less velocity than themoving piston, the motions. of said moulds and movable pistons being soregulated and adjusted that the brick or form is condensed between thesaid piston or pistons, and stationary platen or platensu in such amanner as to be of the same hardness or density, or nearly so, on bothsides, so that the brick or form may contract evenly or alike, or nearlyso, on both sides, and so that the air, moisture, and surplus clay mayescape therefrom while pressing, drying, or baking, thereby leaving themin the desired shape and of equal density, or nearly so, throughout, andfree from checks or cracks. I

Fifth. In the combination with said perforated pistons, said stationaryperforated platens, and sliding moulds, moving as aforesaid, of thecranks which give them their motion; also in the arrangement of saidcranks, at right angles to each other, or nearly so, when more than oneis used, so that while one is giving the final pressure the other orothcrsare slightly compressing, thereby effecting a-great saving ofpower, as, when two cranks are used-for driving a double set ofmouldspand are placed in the same line with each other, and so that bothoperate together, pressing and giving the final pressure at the sametime, or nearly the same time, almost double the power would be requiredto operate themthat would be necessary were the cranks set at rightangles to each other, or nearly so.

Sixth. Graduating the size of the holes or perforations in thepistonsand platens, the largest being placed near the bottom, so thatthere will be a gradual increase in the size of the said perforationsfrom the upper i part of the mould, pistons, or platens downward towardthe bottom of the same,-for the purpose of compensating for thediiferencc in the density of the clay or material to be pressed,pulverized clay, especially, being i exceedingly sensitive in thatrespect, so much so that the clay at the bottom of the mould is moredense than i that at the top, and a brick pressed in that conditionmust, of necessity, be the hardest at the bottom, and in a condition towarp out of shape while baking, besides being liable to the usualobjection of checking or cracking. By means of the perforations beinggradually increased in size, as described, more room is left, or theroom or outlet for the extra amount or surplus clay or material isincreased in the same ratio, or nearly so, as the density of the clay ormaterial increases from the top to the bottom of the moulds, pistons, orplatens.

Seventh. In an arrangement or device for preventing the lifter, whichlifts the brick or form up out of the mould after it is pressed, frombeing clogged up while working, the arrangement being such that noopening is left in the working parts for refuse clay or material to fallinto and fill or clog them up.

Eighth. In constructing the cams of segments of circles, so that theycan be turned up on the lathe, instead of chipping and filing, the usualway of making such cams, thereby aifording the means of producing themso as 'to be adjustable, and so they will run truer and easier, and bebetter adapted to the purposes for which they are intended than camsmade in the ordinary way.

Ninth. The arrangement of the cams on the wheels, so as' to produce fromone set of wheels, and one set of cams on each wheel, the alternatereciprocating motionsof the sliding moulds at opposite ends of themachine.

Tenth. The arrangement and central position of the main shaft with themoulds for pressing the brick or form, zit-opposite sides of said shaft,when the same is used in combination with the perforated pistons, thestationary platens, and a sliding mould that-mov es in the samedirection with the pressing-piston or pistons.

I Eleventh. In forming the holes in the pistons and platens so that theywill gradually increase in size, commencing to-cnlarge at or near thepressing face of said pistons, so that the surplus clay or materialremaining in. sa-id holes or perforations after forming or pressing abrick or form may be easily forced out by the press ure of thesucceedingclay or material. I

Twelfth, In making the faces or nosings of the pressing-pistons andstationary platens adjustable, so that solid or perforated ones may beused when desired. In the pressing of brick from pulverized clay theperforated pistons and platens are much'the best; but for re-pressingbricicmade from tempered clay, or pressing other material into-anydesired form, the solid ones would be better; hence the necessity ofhaving the facings or nosings of the pistons and platens adjustable, sothat either solid or perforated ones may be attached to the pistons orplatens.

Thirteentln An arrangement by means of which the backward motionof thepressing-pistons can be adjusted and controlled, the same consisting ofa pin or screw placed at the back end of said pressing=pistons, so as tostay them at any point desired in their motion backward, the objectbeing to prevent the sliding moulds, in their backward motions, fromdrawing them too far back.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like partsin the several figures, A represents the body or frame of the machine.It is fastened to the supports B and B by means of screws or bolts, asshown in the drawing marked No. 2, at the points marked D. I

The stationary platens are marked E. They are placed at opposite ends ofthe machine, and are cast in 'one piece with the frame. The)? are. moreplainly shown in drawing N0. 3, which is a plan view of two framesfastened together by means of projections marked F, which are alsocastin a piece with the frame A, and the bolts or screws shown in dottedlines andmarked G.

In said plan but two frames are shown bolted together. In a largermachine, where more than two frames are required, all the intermediateframes, or those between the two outer ones, must be so arranged orconstructed that they will have projections, similar to those marked F,on both sides at each end, so as to'admit of their being boltedtogether; and when thus combined, form a complete machine, the size andcapacity of which will be in proportion to the number of frames boltedtogether, as described.

The guides or supports for the pressing-pistons, which are also cost ina piece with the frame A, are shown in fig. 3, and marked by the lettersH; but if desired, these supports maybe dispensed with, and the slidingmould, through which the pressing-pistons move, may be made a littlelonger, and strong enough to support and hold them in position. v

The journal-boxes through which the main shaft passes are also cost withthe frame A, thus forming a part of it. They are marked by the letters Iin fig. 3. a V

The letters J, in figs. 1, 2, and 3, represent the driving-wheels, whichreceive their motion by the pulley K and pinions L, as shown in fig. 2.The pulley K, pinion'or pinions L, with their driving-shaft M, aresupported directly over, or nearly so, by the frame N, as shown in fig.2. There may be two or more of said frames or supports N, andthey can bemade of the shape or form shown in the drawing, or of any otherconvenient form,-

so that the gearing maybe supported above the machine, as abovementioned, and so that the said frame N,'or part of it, or anyattachment thereto, may-act at the same time as a shield or covering, orpartial covering, for the wheel or wheels J. Said frame is bolted, orotherwise fastened firmly, to the frame or frames A. The cams for givingthe sliding moulds their necessary reciprocating motions are fastened tothe wheel or wheels J, and are numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, in drawings Nos.'1 and 2. They are made in the form of segments of circles, so they canbe turned up" in the lathe, thereby aifording a much easier method ofconstructing them than the old way of chipping and filing cams which arecast in irregular forms and at the same time affording the means for amuch easier and truer adjustment than can be got in any other way.

The cam or cams No. 1, are intended to draw the sliding moulds over andcover the clay or material preparatory to its being pressed by thepressing-pistons, which operation of couise draws them towards the shaftG.

Cam No. 2 gives the said sliding moulds a motion half as fast, or nearlyso, and in the same direction, as the motion of the pressing-pistonswhile pressing, the object being tocausc the clay or material to becarried against the stationary perforated platens dhring the action ofpressing, with the same velocity or force, or

nearly so, as the moving or pressing perforated pistons are movedagainst the clay or material on the opposite side, so as to produce asnearly as possible an equal degree of condensation on each side of thebrickor form, without the aid of the simultaneously-moving pistons,thereby affording the means of greatly reducing and simplifying themachinery.

Cam No. 3 draws the moulds back towards the shaft 0, and uncovers thebriclt or form so that it may be lifted out of the mould.

Cam No. 4 forces moulds forward into position, so that they can again befilled with clay or material. Said cams are fastened to the wheels J bymeans of belts or screws, or the equivalent thereof, which may be soarranged, if desired, that their positions may be changed or adjusted onthe wheels.

, The letter O, in figs. 1, 2, and 3, represents the sliding moulds.They are made in the form of a. trunk or box, and are open at both ends,so that they may fit nicely and slide over theends of the stationaryplatens,

and allow the prcssing-pistons to move within them. They receive theirnecessary reciprocating motions, as

above mentioned, by means of the cams 1, 2, 3, and 4, which operate'upon the friction-rollers P, as shown in drawings 1, 2, and 3. Thesefriction-rollers are attached directly to the sliding moulds without theuse of any intermediate connection, thus rendering the action of thecams more direct, and at the sametime simplifying the machinery.

The pressing-pistons are represented by the letter Q, and are shown indrawings, Nos. 2 and 3. They receive their motions by means of theconnections marked R, in figs. 2, 3, and 7, which connectionsarefastened to the main shaft 0, by means of the strap S fastened bywedges or keys, as shown in figs. 6 and 7, theopposite ends beingconnected by straps and wedges to said pressing-pistons, as shown at thepoints marked U, in figs.

2 and 8.

In the pressing of brick, it is often necessary to change the capacityof the mould, as some clays will not condense as easily as others. Ashereinbefore mentioned, to accomplish this result, and similar results,We leave a. lost motion, more or less, as may be required, by making thestrap S adjustable by means of the wedges and keys W X Y, which passthrough the slot in the strap marked T in fig. 6. As will be readilyseen, by

loosening up the keys X and Y, and tightening up or driving down thewedge or key W, the slack or lost motion" will be increased, and by areverse operation it will be decreased, thereby regulating the distancethe platens andpistons shall be apart while the mould is open, and ofcourse thus regulating the size or. capacity of the mould. In ordertoprevent the lost motion being taken up by the backward motion of thesliding moulds, which, by their friction, might draw thepressing-pistons back with them, and thus defeat the object sought to begained of adjusting the capacity of said moulds, we use a pin similar tothat shown at the point marked Z. There are several holes. in the guidesH, into which said pins are placed to limit the distance of the motionof the pistons backward, as and for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned.There arc'many other equivo lent means for accomplishing the sameresult. A small slotted bolt may be placed behind the pistons andadjusted by a screw, or a set-screw may be made to take the place ofsaid pins Z.

, The lifting-device is represented by the letter A, and is shown infigs. 2 and 8. It receives its motion by means of the cam 13 on theshaft G, of which cams there is one for each lifter on the same shaft,and the arms C and D, which swing upon the centres E, F, G, and H, asshown in drawing No. 2. The object of. the arm or rod D is to keep thelifter A in a, vertical position as it moves up or down. i

The pieces-J as shown in fig. 2, are intended to hold the sliding mouldsin place, they being so arranged as to allow 0. part on each side of thesliding mould to slide in a slot, thus keeping it firmly in place on theframe.

The cranks for moving the pressingpistons' are placed on or form a partof the shaft C, and are placed at right angles to each other, or nearlyso, as shown in fig. 9, for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned.

The faces of the platens and pistons are made detachable and areperforated, as shown in fig.-4, and in fig. 2. Fig. 2 showing thecomparative size or arrangement of the holes through the same, beingmade to enlarge gradually inward, as shown, for the purposeshereinbefore mentioned, and fig'. 4 showing the manner of graduating thesize of said holes, for the purposes hereinhei'ore mentioned, We notlimiting ourselves to any particular graduation or to any particularshape of the holes.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The sliding mould on the endof the machine, near cam No. 1, is open, ready to receive the clay ormaterial, while at the opposite end of the machine the pistons andsliding moulds are in the position where the clay or material receivesits final pressure. A movement of the wheels J forwaid in the directionof the arrows, as shown in fig. 2, will cause the open moulds, at J, tomove over. and confine the clay or material within them, at the sametime the pressing-pistons on thatside commencc pressing, while cam No. 3moves the mould and .uncoversa brick or form already pressed. The saidmotionof wheel J being continued, brings the cam on theshaft 0 againstthe friction-roller B on the levers C, and through them moves the lifterA up, together with the brick or form, while another brick or form atthe other end of the machine is being pressed equally on both sides, ornearly so, by the pressing-pistons at that end ofthe machine and theconjoint action of cam No. 2, moving the mould during the action ofpressing, substantially as hereinbefore mentioned. The motion of saidwheel being still continued, cam No. 4 now opens the mould at J leav ingit in a position to receive the clay or material for another brick orform, and cam No. 3 has moved around and uncoversthe brick or form nowfinished at the opposite end of the machine. J Having described theconstruction and operation of our invention with sufficient cleainessand exactness to enable others skilled in the art, as aforesaid, to makeand use the same, what we claim as our invention and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-- 1. The combination and arrangement of the mechanismfor regulating the size of the mould while open, consisting of theadjustable strap S, keys W, X, and Y, for holding said strap inposition, substantially as herein described. I i 1 2. We claim thefriction-rollers P, when in combination with and connected directly tothe sliding moulds O, as and for the purposes described.

3. We claim the stationary perforated platen or platens E, incombination with the friction-rollers the sliding moulds U, and cam No.2, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

4. The combination and arrangcment'of the rods or arms D and G, for thepurpose of keeping the lifters A ina vertical position, and to preventthe parts from being clogged up while working, substantially asdescribed- 5. The arrangement of the cams 1, 2, 3, and 4, on the wheelsJ, so as to 'produce from one set of Wheels and one set of cams on eachwheels the alternate reciprocating motions of the sliding moulds atopposite ends of the machine substantially as herein described.

6. We claim the pin Z, or its equivalent, substantially as hereindescribed. 1

7. The arrangement of the frame N, for supportingthe upper gearing, andaffording a shield to the wheels, J, substantially as herein described.

D. P. DOBBINS,

. JOHN S. RICHARDS,

Witnesses: 4 JAMES SANGST'ER.

WILLIAM Tnunsroun, G. T. MIATT.

